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Post: ADHD and ADD: real or personal failing?

Posted by Seth on 6/22/08

In response to Mr. Burns' article, I would like to
respectfully disagree and present my point of view. First of
all, except for the most extreme non-mainstream points of
view coming from fringe groups like Scientology, I don't
believe it is a matter of opinion whether or not ADHD and
the related ADD is a valid diagnosis or not. Ths issue of
whether or not to give a child medication for those
conditions can honestly be debated with each side offering
legitimate arguments in favor of or against medication. The
author of this article goes so far as to not even recognize
ADHD as a real disorder or dare I say "disease". The problem
with this approach is that as with depression, it views the
person as having failed in his or her ability to pull
themselves together or cope with life's difficulties.
Nothing could be further from the truth in that it is not a
matter of willpower or stength but a biochemical disorder
every bit as real as a pancreas that fails to produce
insulin in a diabetic. We certainly wouldn't blame a
diabetic for being lazy. Similarly, a true alcoholic is
responsible for his or her actions, but the addiction
process itself is not a character issue, but an inescapable
biological drive like hunger or thirst. In summary, I think
it would be wise for the author to consider the assumptions
that he is making in dismissing the reality of ADHD and ADD.

RESPOND TO THIS POST ADD A NEW COMMENT RETURN TO ARTICLE

Posts on this thread, including this one


• ADHD and ADD: real or personal failing?, 6/22/08, by Seth.
• To medicate or not to medicate, 12/11/08, by Stan Frieholdt.